p being once more re-established, since they themselves
were now become tired of a war entered into through their own fault.
With respect to what regarded the Sidicinians, they did not interfere
with the Samnite nation having the free decision of peace and war." The
treaty being concluded, on their return home, the Roman army was
immediately withdrawn after they had received a year's pay, and corn for
three months: for which the consul had stipulated, to grant time for a
truce, until the ambassadors should return. The Samnites having marched
against the Sidicinians with the same forces which they had employed in
their war against the Romans, entertained rather sanguine hopes of
becoming masters of the enemies' citadel. Then the Sidicinians first
began to surrender to the Romans. Afterwards, when the senate rejected
that offer as too late, and as being wrung from them by extreme
necessity, it was made to the Latins, who were already taking up arms on
their own account. Nor did even the Campanians (so much stronger was
their recollection of the injuries done them by the Samnites than of the
kindness of the Romans) keep themselves from this quarrel. Out of these
so many states, one vast army, entering the territories of the Samnites
under the direction of the Latins, committed more damage by depredations
than by battles; and though the Latins had the advantage in the field,
they retired out of the enemies' territory without reluctance, that they
might not be obliged to fight too frequently. This opportunity was
afforded to the Samnites to send ambassadors to Rome. When they appeared
before the senate, having complained that they, though now confederates,
were subjected to the same hardships as those they had suffered as
enemies, solicited, with the humblest entreaties, that "the Romans would
think it enough the victory, of which they had deprived the Samnites,
over their Campanian and Sidicinian enemy; that they would not besides
suffer them to be vanquished by these most dastardly states. That they
could by their sovereign authority keep the Latins and the Campanians
out of the Samnite territory, if they really were under the dominion of
the Roman people; but if they rejected their authority, that they might
compel them by arms." To this an equivocal answer was returned, because
it was mortifying to acknowledge, that the Latins were not now in their
power, and they were afraid lest by finding fault they might estrange
them